Air Ambulance - When Time Counts
By Dick Healy
Though rescue helicopters have saved thousands of lives in recent years,
lesser-publicized fixed-wing air ambulance aircraft – both
turbo-prop, and jets – are in great demand these days. The fix-wing air
ambulance aircraft fly accident victims and seriously ill patients further
and faster than helicopters. For example, a helicopter has an average range
of 150 nautical miles before it has to be refueled. Fix-wing craft can reach
500 to 1,400 nm, depending on the model flown.
In most cases, air ambulances are private business class
aircraft that that can be converted with specially equipped stretchers
advanced life support equipment, medications and highly trained medical
staff.
Air ambulance service is offered throughout the United States,
including Hawaii. Companies such as Quik Flight located at Albany, New York
International Airport, can arrange for bedside to bedside service. Special
patient needs are taken into consideration so that various transport
vehicles are used.
The air ambulance companies will also assist clients with their
insurance claims.
Getting into smaller airports with shorter runways, is an
important factor in transporting patients. Every minute counts in emergency.
 According to Quik Flight President, Chandler Atkins, special round trip air
ambulance flights are very important when heart transplant surgeons travel
to get a heart. The doctors have few precious hours to fetch a heart and
return to their medical facility to perform a transplant.
“There is enough stress on patients and family members in time
of crises,” says Atkins. “ We feel we can bring added piece of mind by
helping them get through their particular medical ordeal.
The growing air ambulance service is now worldwide. It is not
uncommon to have patients flown and jets from Europe and elsewhere into
major American airports and than transferred to waiting domestic air
ambulance aircraft to complete the respective U. S journey for medical
treatment.
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